Nicolas Pepe, who signed for Trabzonspor in September, has shared insights into his new chapter in Turkish football and his past experiences at Arsenal.
The Ivorian forward has not yet made his debut for Trabzonspor due to an injury, but he remains optimistic about the future and defended Mikel Arteta.
Nicolas Pepe was signed by Arsenal for £72m and made 112 appearances, with 27 goals, and 21 assists for the Gunners before his departure in the summer after being released for free.
Discussing the transition to his new club, he said, “When I received the first offer, it impressed me a lot because they came by travelling personally and this enabled us to progress quickly. Because they showed me a lot of love and attention and this made me very happy, these were the things that influenced my decision.”
Elaborating on the struggles he faced due to his injury, Pepe stated, “The last part of the season in Nice was really complicated due to the injury I suffered. Of course, I’m trying to fix this and I know things will get better. We are overcoming this by working together with the club, both individually and collectively.”
Commenting on his relationship with former Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, he said, “He’s an extraordinary kid, he tried hard. It’s not his fault the money we paid back then. When things don’t go your way, you have to move on.
“There’s no point in trying the same thing if it doesn’t work. My coach defended me, but as he said, in case of negativity, you should continue, improve and never stop on your way. That period actually helped me a lot in this context.
“There is also a positive side, you have to find it.”
Pepe also discussed his versatility on the field. “I played well at number 9 and last season at number 10. The place where I feel best is the right wing. I think I am more useful there, but my ability to play in other positions when given the task is my strength.”
Regarding the fan culture in Turkey, Pepe was quite complimentary. “I didn’t spend much time with Trabzonspor fans, but I was very happy with the love they showed me in a short time, even though I couldn’t do anything for my club yet.”
Discussing the challenges of his injury, Pepe affirmed, “Injury is a very challenging situation physically and mentally. There were many people who thought of giving up at these moments, but for myself, I would never give up the fight.”
When asked to compare the Super League with other leagues, Pepe explained, “I can give England as an example because it is the best league in the world, because every team you face is very strong and very difficult to beat.”
Lastly, imparting advice to young footballers, Pepe said, “This is just the beginning of a long road. There are so many ups and downs. If you work well on these descents and are mentally strong, you will be able to get to the top this time.”